Kauboi BBQ & Izakaya — Restaurant in Plano

My boyfriend and I came twice, back to back because it was so good!

Day 1, Thursday: If you're looking for a fantastic dining experience in Plano, Kauboi Japanese BBQ is an absolute must! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was stylish, professional, and welcoming.

We came on a Thursday evening at 6:30pm and were seated immediately (honestly we came at such a great time because within the next hour, it was a full house!)

Our server Aja was fabulous - super attentive, hard work ethic, and made sure we were comfortable and taken care of throughout the night.

Trinity and Danny (the managers) and owner, Ryan, checked in on us with genuine kindness and professionalism - you can tell they truly care about the guests' experience! Loved and appreciated that so much. It's rare to see a team so engaged and passionate about their hospitality and efforts, and it really shows in every detail of the restaurant.

We selected the Rodeo Round set which is $49/pp. The oysters and special nigiris alone made the $10 difference from the Bonfire set worth it. Love the option of both Japanese BBQ and sushi with appetizers! Highly recommend you try Kauboi because we're definitely coming back.

Day 2, Friday: Like I said... we're back! We returned the very next day (Friday), and wow - it was packed! For a party of 2 arriving around 6:30pm, we waited about 45 minutes to be seated. But honestly, no complaints here - I'm so happy to see Kauboi thriving. They truly deserve all the success coming their way.

This time, we went with the Bonfire set ($39/pp), which doesn't include the oyster appetizer, specialty nigiris, or premium cuts like the Rodeo set does. But let me tell you -- everything we had was still phenomenal.

FIRST TIMERS: If it's your first visit, I highly recommend going for the Rodeo set ($49/pp) to get the full experience. But if you're looking for something a bit lighter, you really can't go wrong with the Bonfire either.

Considering they've only been open for 3 weeks, I was seriously impressed. Even with a full house, the service and food came out with great timing. Everything ran smoothly, everyone was on their A-game.

Ryan, Danny, and Trinity - you're doing a spectacular job! Your...

Finally got to check out Kauboiiiiiii

VIBES: every table was full, but it wasn’t too loud, can still have conversation with your peeps. Nicer feel than other ayce kbbq. Waiter was super nice, helpful, made sure we had everything we needed 👍🏻

We got the $40 ayce and it’s an awesome deal!! Def going back!

WAGYU BRISKET: good, melts in your mouth. Very thinly sliced

WAGYU BEEF BELLY: super thinly sliced so it curls up all weird and doesn’t look appetizing, but tastes really good

WAGYU SIGNATURE STEAK: this is for people who enjoy lean meat, which is not me. Not as flavorful either. My mom and Scott enjoyed it

GARLIC PORK BELLY: this was my freaking fav!! I’ve ordered this at so many other places and thought, “where’s the garlic?”. You will kill vampires with this 💯

LA GALBI: yum! Deliciously marinated and higher meat ratio than other ayce

PORK JOWL: soooo our waiter recommended this and said “trust” and trust I did, but it was not for me. I tried several different pieces and no, but was still fun to try it! 😀

CRISPY RICE: Got the eel with avocado and the spicy salmon with onion and chili. Loved the contrast of the crispy rice with the eel/salmon. If you like rice, you NEED to eat this!

NIGIRI: got the eel and Wagyu. Both were really good. Rice was a little softly packed.

HONEY GARLIC KARAAGE: Scott loved this. I thought it was way too sweet, but I’m not into the sweet flavors

CHEESE CORN: it’s a very small portion, which I get bc damn that was SWEET. If you like the cheese corn at Ari, you will not like this one, but should still try it to confirm.

Overall, we had a great time and the service was amazing!! They do not cook the meat for you (he did put the meat on the grill though), but it’s so busy it’s not feasible. They come by often to replace the grill, top off your water, clear dishes, etc and everything comes out super fast.

Oh, and they have KIMCHIIIIIIIIIIII and jangajji (pickled radish in brine)

PS -...

We recently visited this Korean all-you-can-eat barbecue spot after being repeatedly assured—twice before going and again when we arrived—that they serve authentic Japanese A5 Wagyu. Let’s just say, what we got was far from it.

The so-called A5 Wagyu was clearly not the real deal. No marbling, no melt-in-your-mouth quality, no richness you’d expect from true A5. It was unseasoned and unremarkable—just thin slices of basic beef passed off as premium.

Food Quality • Chicken: Odd texture and strange taste. Not spoiled, but definitely off. • Kimchi: Quite spicy, which is fine if that’s your preference, but not expected. • Salad: Dressed but completely flavorless—like eating wet lettuce. • Beef Bulgogi: Overly salty and way too sweet. It tasted more like syrupy soy sauce than proper bulgogi. • Sushi: We only got one round because it came out painfully slow, and we gave up waiting.

The waiter was kind and attentive, which was one of the few positives. But the restaurant was loud—so loud that conversation felt like shouting.

MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD

Here’s the big red flag: they carry scalding hot metal grill plates through tight aisles packed with guests. Instead of a safe sleeve or in-place replacement system, they physically remove the hot plates and walk them through the dining area. This is just waiting for someone to get seriously burned. Totally unacceptable in a family-friendly environment.

We looked at both the $39 and $49 options. Besides a few added cuts of meat, there’s virtually no real difference. No dessert included anywhere either, which is unusual for a place at this price point.

This place sells hype, not quality. The food is mediocre, the “A5 Wagyu” claim is borderline deceptive, and the grill replacement method is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Skip it and spend your money where safety, honesty, and real quality...